One of the annoying and strange experiences a car owner or driver could deal with is the car starting smoothly, but the next time you try to ignite the car, it doesn’t start. It can get worse if you experience the same issue frequently. What could be the cause of such a problem anyway? Often, this situation is linked to problems with the car’s electrical system, engine, or fuel delivery. Keep reading down here as we explore in detail the specific causes of this problem in most cars.
Is it Normal for Cars to Not Start Every Time?
Under normal circumstances, a car in good condition should start every time. Therefore, anytime a vehicle doesn’t start or even struggles to start, the car may have a faulty/ damaged component(s) or an underlying issue. The weather, tear, and wear may cause such issues, which can sometimes be mechanical. If you encounter this issue now and then, you shouldn’t hesitate to call an auto professional to inspect your car.
Reasons Why Your Car Starts Sometimes, and Sometimes it doesn’t
A weak or dead battery
A battery is one of the vital components a car must have to start. It stores the electric power that runs a car. There is no voltage for running the car when you have a dead or weak battery. Therefore, the car won’t start. However, you should also check if there is corrosion on terminals or a short circuit that could hinder the battery from functioning effectively.
You can always use a voltmeter to determine how much voltage your battery holds. More importantly, ensure your battery connection isn’t ripped or loose.
Below are signs you could check out to know your battery is faulty or almost dying:
- The car is hard to start, and a sluggish cranking of the engine
- You can hardly turn your n a cold morning
- Your headlights often flicker, or they don’t function at all
- Dim interior and dashboard lights
A possible solution
If you have a weak battery, use your jumper cable (you should always have them in your car) to charge it from a portable jump starter or another vehicle with a functioning battery.
Suppose you have a dead battery; consider replacing it with a new battery.
Issues with some engine sensors
Unlike older vehicles manufactured with simple instruments and sensors, most modern cars’ engines are installed with at least 15 sensors. Some play a vital role in fuel injection and ignition processes. These sensors include fuel pressure, crankshaft position, throttle position, camshaft position, mass airflow, knock and manifold air pressure sensors.
A car’s Power Control Module (PCM) is like a “brain” and uses readings from these sensors to operate. Therefore, when one or more sensors are faulty, a car may not start.
You can often note these issues if you see the “Check Engine” light on your dashboard or if your car sounds rough when it idles.
A possible solution
You can try troubleshooting some of the sensors if you have the knowledge and skills. However, it is best to take your car to an auto repair shop where a professional can diagnose and fix the issue properly.
A fault with the wires and cables
One common electrical problem that causes a car to start and sometimes not start is the faulty connection of wires and cables. It can be a poor connection, insulation breakage, or corrosion.
For instance, if there is a bad connection from the battery to the starter, your car won’t start because there is no transmission of voltages to the starter. Additionally, if you have faulty ground cable wiring, your car won’t start because it is the primary support to a car’s entire electrical system.
A possible solution
Diagnosing a car’s electrical system can be complex. Therefore, take your vehicle to a good garage that fixes electrical problems. A good early diagnosis will help you prevent problems with other components likely to be caused by electrical faults.
Loose or bad spark plugs
Suppose you’ve got enough gas in the tank, a charged battery, and no connection issue in your car, but it won’t start. You may need to examine your spark plugs. They might be loose or bad, thus affecting the fuel injection process. As a result, your car won’t start.
Signs of bad spark plugs include engine misfires, reduced fuel economy, acceleration issues, and rough idling.
A possible solution
If you’ve loose spark plugs, first check if the threads on the cylinder heads are in good condition. If so, use a torque wrench to tighten the spark plugs.
Suppose your spark plugs are worn out; consider a replacement. It’s a relatively inexpensive repair, anyway.
Damaged or blown fuse
Fuses protect the electrical wiring in a vehicle; when blown or faulty, a car won’t start because of the damaged links in the electrical system. Generally, power won’t flow to the starter relay, which is essential to starting your car.
Among the fuses to check are the fuel pump fuse, a relay fuse, and an ignition fuse.
A possible solution
The only solution to fix damaged or blown fuses is through a replacement. It’s an easy task you can do yourself, provided you know the exact fuse with an issue.
Bad starter motor
A starter or cranking motor is meant to initiate your car’s engine operation by turning it over to suck air. A bad starter motor often causes a car to start sometimes, and sometimes, it doesn’t. A common issue may be loose components of the motor, a faulty starter solenoid, or the faulty motor itself.
Signs of a bad starter motor include a grinding noise when you start the engine and a low engine crank when you start the car. Also, the car might not start at all.
A possible solution
The ideal solution to a damaged starter motor is to replace it with a new one. It is more economical to replace than to repair, comparing replacement cost to repair cost.
Clogged fuel filters and injectors
Clogged fuel filters and injectors are other issues likely to cause a car to start sometimes, and sometimes it doesn’t. These two components are prone to clogging over time because of their function. When there is excess clogging, there is reduced fuel pressure, thus preventing the engine from receiving the right quantities of fuel. As a result, you’re more likely to experience problems starting your car.
A possible solution
First, always ensure you’re adding high-quality fuel to your car. It minimizes the chances of clogging that is often caused by low-quality gasoline containing wit particles. You should also ensure you change your fuel filters as often as your manufacturer recommends.
Engine problems
Problems with the engines could also cause your car to start sometimes, sometimes failing to start. Among them is low engine compression, which causes the engine to lose power. Also, if your timing belt has failed or broken, the starter will engage, but the engine won’t start.
A possible solution
You should replace a broken timing belt. For other engine problems, you need a professional to run a diagnosis on your engine to know the exact problem to fix.
Final Thought
As you can see above, numerous issues cause starting problems in a car. Some are easy to fix, require little mechanical knowledge, and are cheap. On the other hand, some are complex and need a professional to sort them out.
Whenever you notice your car starts and another time it doesn’t, start by checking the condition of your battery, its terminals, and the starter motors. These are often common causes of such a problem in most cars. However, you should not ignore this problem if it persists because it might be a sign of a more serious underlying issue in your car.
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